With the primary assist on this goal, Luke Mistelbacher has now amassed 200 career WHL points. An undrafted player who broke into the league at 17, he’s grown into one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the league. Congratulations on the milestone Luke!

Great shot by Joby, and the stretch pass by Nick Johnson was his 100th career point. A hard-working kid who’s willing to gut out offense, he’s been terrific for the Wheat Kings since coming over in trade. Congratulations to him on the milestone!

I said to Gav before I interviewed him recently“This is the first time in 10 years of broadcasting I’ve interviewed a player about a minor penalty.” As he’s got over 200 points in his career, and is always in the thick of the play, over 1000 days without a penalty is incredible.

This is the first time in my time in the league the WHL has done anything like this just within the league and I think it’s great. More exposure for top prospects is always a good thing. The full roster isn’t out yet but one has to think Gio Pantelas is a lock.

My latest on the Wheat Kings is a lengthy one: I talk goaltending stability, rookie comparables, WHL WJC snubs, the short-term, WJC-related consequences of NCAA departures, and a coach and a team that would each say they’re lucky to have each other:

I never want to take anything away from weekly award winners, who objectively had great weeks, so instead I’ll say Chase Surkan (4G 2GWG 2GP) and Filip Ruzicka (2-0-0 stopping 55 of 57 shots) must’ve been the runner ups for Rookie and Goalie of the Week this week.

There are head scratcher omissions from Canada’s WJC roster every year (a function of having so many great options). This year’s for me: Bryce Pickford, a hard-hitting Montreal Canadians pick who has 20 goals already this season as a defenseman and has won two WHL championships.

Talk about a guy who bleeds black and gold. Marty Murray picked up his 100th career win as head coach of the Wheat Kings last night. He is the only active WHL head coach to have 100 goals and 100 wins with the same franchise.

Tough day for the Hurricanes no doubt, moving on from a player who has worn their sweater for over 260 games. Spokane fills an open 20-year-old spot with one of the best veteran snipers available.

If Chase Surkan is cleanly beating NHL drafted goaltenders with shots like this at 16, what is he going to be doing at 17? The offensive upside of this young man is incredible and in hindsight it seems almost absurd the Wheat Kings got him at 14th overall. What a weekend for him.

Friendly reminder that Chase Surkan is only 16 years old. @bdnwheatkings | #WHLHatTricks

Chase Surkan becomes the 3rd Wheat King with multiple hat tricks this season, joining Luke Mistelbacher and Joby Baumuller (who had two tonight as well) with two each. Jordan Gavin has a hat trick as well. The team has 7 of them already, more than the last three seasons combined.

The Wheat Kings look to spoil their opponent’s long awaited homecoming in Regina tonight. Rob Mahon, voice of the Wheat Kings, has more on the Precision Toyota Pregame Report!

December WHL Report: Seams, Speed and Structure – Early WHL Standouts for the 2027 Draft

In my latest on the Wheat Kings, I look at superlative goaltending, a growing defensive conscience, an ex-Wheat King who’s easy to root for, NHL teams kicking themselves on Joby Baumuller, and noting the guy whose whole job is not to be noticed:

In Kamloops last year, Carson Bjarnason turned in the best goaltending performance I’ve called with numerous highlight reel saves (including one a penalty shot). Filip Ruzicka may have one upped him last night. He was extraordinary in the win over Saskatoon. NHL teams, take note.

WHAT'D WE JUST WITNESS?!😳 @bdnwheatkings

With six points in his last two games, Wheat Kings prospect Ethan Young continues to lead the Sask U18AAA league in scoring (6 points up on next closest guy). As far as I can find, a defenseman has never led that league in scoring at the end of a season. Could Young be the first?

I’ve been skating with a bunch of ex pros and ex junior guys lately (I am, predictably, out of place) and it’s a good reminder the game is not as easy as the WHL kids make it look. Have you ever been deked out by someone while you had the puck? Because that happened to me today.

Jordan Gavin just keeps finding new levels to his game. After an exceptional outing in Saskatoon which Marty Murray called his best game as a Wheat King, what level might he reach next?